The militants and terrorists have managed to attack and cause heavy damage to the sensitive government agencies, not because they are more powerful or better trained than our armed troops but because we do not follow the laid down SOPs. Since the enemy is not defined, their informers watch our movements and the security system and find the chinks in our armour. So where our security system show laxity, they attack and cause casualties to both men and material.
The recent attack on ISI in Sukkur is one example where our security system showed laxity and did not follow the laid down SOP at dusk. The British army used to have "Stand To" drill at Reveille (dawn) and Retreat (dusk) by blowing a bugle. This used to be an expected time of enemy's attack. The troops used to get into pre-determined positions with weapons to face any likely eventuality at that time. Now we put up barricades and security systems on high alert after an incident has happened, and then gradually lower our guards with the passage of time. The militants watch us closely and attack when we lower our guards.
This reminds me the famous jail break of March in 1983 where all hardened criminal escaped. A high powered commission was constituted to find out the reasons of jail break and recommend ways to stop such incidents in future. The jail superintendent showed me a Jail Manual of about 25 pages written by British Government and told me if we had followed the SOP written in it, a jail break could not have taken place. So there was no need of any commission, sacking people on duty and resignation of IG prisons would have sufficed.
In Pakistan we don’t believe in resignation or sacking of the heads when a shameless incidence happens. It is only the poor guard or the duty, or a minor clerk who faces the punishment.
MUHAMMAD AZHAR KHWAJA,
Lahore, July 27.